I was fortunate to be part of a DEVELOP team that worked closely with the Costa Rica Embassy to the United States and Costa Rica's Servicio Nacional de Aguas Subterráneas Riego y Avenamiento (SENARA). We used environmental data derived from NASA Earth Observing satellites to create decision support tools for a water management project in Costa Rica.
Project Abstract:
For the past three years, the Arenal-Tempisque Watershed has experienced drought conditions complicating water management and agricultural production. To facilitate a responsive water management decision-making process, the Costa Rica Water Resources team collaborated with Servicio Nacional de Aguas Subterráneas Riego y Avenamiento (SENARA), UGA Costa Rica, and the Costa Rican Embassy. The team created a model in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) modeling software for the Arenal-Tempisque Watershed using NASA Earth observations, ancillary data sources, and in-situ data. The model’s results were calibrated and validated through the use of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool-Calibration and Uncertainty Procedures software (SWAT-CUP). The evapotranspiration data (MOD16) from Terra’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor were used to offer another source of continuous data to supplement the SWAT model’s outputs. Additionally, the project partners were provided with a tutorial that will enable the SWAT model’s hydrological outputs to be calibrated and validated for different future scenarios. The results obtained from the SWAT model and the MOD16 data provided greater insight into the region’s hydrologic processes, which allowed for the development of a water resource inventory for the study area. Upon receiving the hydrological data and tools, SENARA will be able to replicate the project’s methods to continuously update its water budget; this will allow the agency to make a more efficient water management plan, benefitting local inhabitants and stakeholders.
Project Video with introduction by the Costa Rican Ambassador to the U.S.:
The following videos are part of the decision support tools we created for SENARA: